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Examining Barcelona’s Defense in Stunning Loss to Alavés

By Sean Whooley

BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 9: Aleix vidal of F.C.Barcelona, fighting for the ball with Ibai Gómez from Deportivo alavés, during the Spanish League match between F.C Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés at Nou Camp, on September, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Joan Cros Garcia/Corbis via Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 9: Aleix vidal of F.C.Barcelona, fighting for the ball with Ibai Gómez from Deportivo alavés, during the Spanish League match between F.C Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés at Nou Camp, on September, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Joan Cros Garcia/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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In what was perhaps the most shocking match of the young La Liga season thus far, Barcelona fell to Deportivo Alavés, a club that hadn’t been in Spain’s top flight in over 10 years, and at Camp New to make matters worse.

Before cancelling Barcelona’s season over the loss, take a quick look at Alavés. They actually had a decent record before relegation and financial troubles hit them in the mid-2000s, actually making a UEFA Cup (now Europa League) finals appearance, losing to Liverpool in 2001. Making their return to La Liga this year, Alavés managed to stun Atletico Madrid at The Calderon in a 1-1 draw, and also drew Sporting Gijón. This is their first La Liga victory in some time, and it was fully deserved.

Alavés not only struck first, but responded brilliantly to a Jérémy Mathieu equalizer, taking a 2-1 lead and holding onto it. Alavés played well and Barcelona couldn’t break their five-man defense down in the end despite possessing 75 percent of the ball. However, as well Alavés played though, they were also aided by a Barcelona defense that Luis Enrique simply labeled as “fragile” after the match.

In truth, it was Barcelona’s B-level back line. With a Champions League tilt with Celtic coming in the midweek, Enrique opted to rest his normal defenders. Luis Enrique went with Javier Mascherano was joined by Mathieu, Lucas Digne and Aleix Vidal. Despite the lower level of ability, a team of Barcelona’s quality should have no trouble installing reserves and getting results–but that was not the case Saturday.

Worst of all, the majority of the troubles came from the most constant starter of the back four in Mascherano. The Argentine Swiss army knife of a player was not at his best against Alavés, committing a defensive error that allowed for Ibai Gómez to score what would eventually turn out to be the winner. Mascherano whiffed as he attempted to volley a clearance, and the slight contact he made put it on the foot of Gómez, who slotted home past Jasper Cillessen.

Mascherano was good on the ball, completing 94 percent of his passes out of the back. In fact, the entire back four was good in that sense, with Digne’s 89 percent pass completion the worst of the bunch–by no means bad. In fact, it was off the ball where they struggled with Alavés.

The first goal for the visitors is a prime example of this. Alavés’ off-ball movement was spectacular all match in the brief spurts in which they had possession. Deyverson, Alavés’ main frontman, shook off–you guessed it–Mascherano as the ball flew across the box. Despite sticking tight to the Brazilian, the split-second where Mascherano lost him cost Barcelona.

On Gómez’s winner, Mascherano losing the ball was only part of it. Aleix Vida’s failure to beat Gómez to the ball can be excused since his teammate made a mistake, but he was immediately spun by Gómez, looking foolish as the Spanish winger pushed a shot by Cillessen. Credit to Alavés for taking advantage of opportunities, but Barca’s defenders will know they could have done better.

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As a whole, Barcelona’s entire XI won just 39 percent of duels (aerial, take-ons, tackles, etc.) That means the defense can’t entirely be faulted by that statistic, but it starts there. Against an inferior team, a team like Barca is expected to lose aerial duels when the opposition tries to strike on the counter, but they can’t lose 60 percent of them like they did. They also can’t have 30 percent successful tackles–losing seven out of 10 tackles makes it easy for even the lowliest of teams to make you pay. Alavés have proven that they are better than advertised by fully taking advantage of that.

The loss to Alavés is not something that should be read into too much as Barcelona will still be one of the best teams in Europe. However, the defensive frailties they showed, regardless of the personnel, could come back to bite them. With Atletico and Real Madrid competing for that top spot, any slip-up counts. Losing the third match of the year shouldn’t knock Barca out of the La Liga title race. However, any repeat of such failings could make it hard to rebound for the Catalans.